Can package



w. E. TAYLOR Dec. 1

CAN PACKAGE Filed Nov. 22, 1961 i i i m a 7 i 1 H ,ll. f r vlil we? 7 pawn I I Z a a 4 J M M w 4) a g m mm m H W m m H "H m W m M M Z W H .II z 1/ j m 1, z M 22 United States Patent l 3,113,668 CAN PAQKAGE Wiiliam Edward Taylor, E airtield, Conn, assignor to American (Ian (Zornpany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 154,136 4 tjlairns. (Cl. 2tl647) The present invention relates to can packages and has particular reference to a multiple can package wherein a pair of double seamed cans are maintained in end to end abutting relationship by means of a common label having a continuously smooth outer surface.

There is in the canning industry a definite place for an attractive can package wherein two double seamed cans are firmly secured together so that they can be merchandizcd as a single unit. Such a package is especially desirable for the merchandising of food products, such as vegetable chow mein and crisp noodles, which are usually consumed together but which must be packed in separate cans as a result of varying processing requirements or because of the loss of desirable characteristics if mixed prior to consumption. It is also desirable for promoting the unit sale of more than one can of the same product, or of two cans of dilTerent products which are not necessarily intended to be used together, but which are packed by the same producer.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a can package of simple construction wherein two cans are held together in end to end abutting relationship by a common la -el which is adhesively secured to the outside surfaces of their bodies, the inner end seams of the cans being recessed inwardly to make them substantially flush with the can bodies so that they cause no unsightly wrinkling of the label which covers them and the outer end seams of the cans projecting radially beyond the can bodies so that the cans can be opened by conventional can openers.

To provide for separation of the cans, means are incorporated in the label to sever it circumferentially outwardly of the recessed inner end seams. The label is preferably provided with two individual panel portions, one of which is disposed outwardly of each can and remains with the can after severance of the label to identify its contents. This is of great value in the event the cans are not opened immediately. As a result of this construction, the present invention provides a practical can package which is well suited to modern merchandising requirements.

An object of the invention is a provision of a multiple can package which is low in cost, attractive in appearance, and which can be displayed in the usual manner in the canned food sections of retail stores.

Another object is the provision of a multiple can package wherein a pair of cans are firmly secured together in such manner that they can be handled and stacked as a single can.

Still another object is the provision of a multiple can package which has the general appearance and shape of a single large can.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple can package which can be easily formed in a simple labeling operation.

A still further object is the provision of a can package wherein the cans can be provided with separate label panels which are always axially aligned without requiring a label orienting operation.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple can package which is sturdy enough to prevent premature, inadvertent separation of the cans and yet is simple enough to permit readily separation when desired.

A further object is the provision of a multiple can pack- 3,ll3,668 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 age wherein means are provided to identify the contents of the individual cans even after they have been separated from each other.

Still another object is the provision of a multiple can package wherein the cans can be opened, before or after separation, by conventional can opening means.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a multiple can package embodying the principles of the instant invention, a portion of the common label which secures the two individual cans together being broken back in order to illustrate underlying portions of the cans;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the can package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FEGURES 4 and 5 are fragmentary side elevational views of can packages embodying modified forms of means for severing the comomn label to separate the cans.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a multiple can package which comprises a pair of cans ill, 12 which are disposed iri stacked, axially aligned abutting relationship. In the illustrated form of the invention, the upper can it) is shown as being somewhat less in height than the lower can 12, the reason for this being that the cans of this particular package are intended to contain diiferent products which are to be used in conjunction with each other.

The cans 1d, 12 are cylindrical in shape and formed with tubular bodies 14 having their outer ends, i.e., the top end of the upper can It) and the bottom end of the lower can 12, closed by means of countersunk end members 16 which are secured to the bodies 14 in multilayered, interfolded end seams 18 of the type which are known in the art as double seams. These outer end seams 13 project axially outwardly beyond the exterior surfaces of the can bodies 14 in the usual manner and thus permit opening of the cans Ill, 12 by any of the conventional can openers which are available in practically every household.

The opposite, inner ends of the can bodies 14- are closed by means of countersunk end members it? which are secured to the can bodies 14 in inner end seams 22. which are double seams similar in construction to the outer end seams 1-8. The can bodies '14 adjacent the inner end seams 22 are recessed or necked-in at 24 in order to reduce the diameter of their inner peripheral end portions. As a. result of this necking in, the inner end members 20 are smaller in diameter than are the outer end members 16, and the contiguous inner end seams 242 are smaller in diameter than the outer end seams 18, the seams 22 preferably being of the same diameter as the can bodies it. so that they are substantially flush with the exterior surfaces of the can bodies 14, as seen in FIGURES l and 3.

T he cans 12 are firmly held in abutting axial alignment, with their contiguous inner end scams 2?. contacting each other along a circular line of abutment 26 (see FIG. 3), by a single common label 36 which preferably covers all of the side surfaces of the cans 1t 12 except those of the outer end seams 18 and smoothly spans the recessed inner end portions of the cans 1Q, 12, thus giving the package the appearance of a single, tall can.

The label 39 is formed from a single sheet of label stock which is wrapped around the cans in, 12 and has its longitudinal edges overlapped to form a glued lap side seam 32. (see FIG. 1). The inner surface of the label 3% is adhesive'ly secured to the outer surfaces of both of the can bodies 14 in order to hold the cans against relative axial movement. This adhesion may be obtained either by a spot glueing of the label 3b to the can bodies 14-, or by an overall applicationof adhesive to the inner surface of the label 3t prior to its being wrapped around the cans l0, 12.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the label 353' extends tangentially of the rounded outer layers of the recessed inner end seams 22 and thus is not wrinkled or distorted by these seams, as it would be if they projected outwardly beyond the can bodies 14 as do the outer end seams 18. Actually, by virtue of the fact that the inner end seams 22 are disposed fiush with the bodies 14, they function to back up and support the label 30 against radial pressure which might tend to tear or perforate it in this recessed area of the package.

It is, of course, possible to more deeply recess the inner end seams 2 2 so that they are spaced inwardly from the label 33*. Such a construction is practical, and it is intended that it be covered by the phrase substantially flush when that phrase is used in the appended claims.

In order to provide for separation of the cans it), 12, means are provided to sever the label circumferentially, preferably along a line which is disposed radially outwardly of the line of abutment 26 between the inner end seams 22. In the form of the invention disclosed in FIG- URES 13, the severing means comprises a pull string 34- which is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the label 39 and extends completely around it outwardly of the line of abutment 26 and then passes through the label lap seam 32 and terminates in a free, exposed end 36 which, when grasped and pulled by the consumer, completely severs the label 3t) outwardly of the line of abutment 26, thus separating the cans 1t 12 one from the other.

The label 36 preferably is printed with two complete, separated panel portions 49, 42 which are dimensioned to cover substantially the entire exterior body surfaces of their respective under-lying cans 10, 12, to identify the contents of the cans. After severance of the label 3%, these indicia remain attached to their respective cans to permanently identify the contents. This is particularly important in the event the cans are not opened immediately, but are put in storage.

It will be obvious that means other than the pull string 34 can be used to provide for severance of the label 39. FIG. 4 illustrates one modification wherein a pull tape 46 is utilized in place of the pull string '34, the pull tape 46 being secured to the inside surface of the label 36' and passing through the label lap seam '32 and terminating in a free end 48.

FIG. illustrates another modification wherein the label 39 is formed with a pair of parallel, circumferential, semi-perforated scores 5t; which define a circumferential tear strip 52, the label 30 being notched at 54 in the lap seam area at the ends of the scores 50 to set off a tear tongue 56. To facilitate removal of the tear strip 52, the tear strip 52 and tear tongue 56 are not glued to the underlying inner can end seams 22. It would also be possible to provide a single semi-perforated circumferential score outwardly of the line of abutment 26, which could be readily broken by a knife or fingernail to separate the cans 1t 12. it is obvious that other severing means could be devised to meet specific package requirements.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A unitary can package comprising a plurality of cans of uniform diameter, each of said cans comprising a tubular can body having its opposite ends closed by end members secured to the peripheral end portions of said body in multi-layer end seams, said cans being axially aligned with their inner end seams in contiguous relationship, said inner end seams being substantially flush with the adjacent exterior surfaces of said can bodies, and a common label enclosing substantial portions of all of said axially aligned can bodies and smoothly spanning the said inner end seams without deformation to secure said cans together.

2. The can package of claim 1 wherein a circumferentially disposed tearing member is positioned inwardly of said label and adjacent said inner end seams to separate the cans for individual use.

3. A unitary can package comprising a pair of cans of uniform diameter, said cans comprising tubular can bodies having their opposite ends closed by end members which are secured to peripheral end portions of said bodies in double seams, said cans being axially aligned with their inner double seams in abutting relationship, the inner marginal end portions of said can bodies being necked-in and the inner double seams of said can bodies being disposed substantially flush with the adjacent outer surfaces of said can bodies, and a single common label wrapped around and adhesively secured to each of said can bodies and extending from one of said bodies to the other of said bodies without deformation by said inner double scams.

4. A package comprising a pair of double seamed cans, said cans having bodies of uniform cross-sectional configuration disposed in contiguous, axially aligned relationship, the outer end seams of said cans projecting radially outwardly of the bodies of said cans and the inner end seams of said cans being substantially flush with the bodies of said cans, and a single label wrapped around and adhesively secured to both of said can bodies, said label in the area where it covers said flush inner end seams being supported by said inner end seams against inward deformation.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,553,559 Eckman May 22, 1951 2,991,923 Wilson July 11, 1961 2,996,180 Bruce Aug. 15, 1961 3,023,554 Hlavacek et al Mar. 6, 1962 

1. A UNITARY CAN PACKAGE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CANS OF UNIFORM DIAMETER, EACH OF SAID CANS COMPRISING A TUBULAR CAN BODY HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS CLOSED BY END MEMBERS SECURED TO THE PERIPHERAL END PORTIONS OF SAID BODY IN MULTI-LAYER END SEAMS, SAID CANS BEING AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH THEIR INNER END SEAMS IN CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP, SAID INNER END SEAMS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE ADJACENT EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID CAN BODIES, AND A COMMON LABEL ENCLOSING SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF ALL OF SAID AXIALLY ALIGNED CAN BODIES AND SMOOTHLY SPANNING THE SAID INNER END SEAMS WITHOUT DEFORMATION TO SECURE SAID CANS TOGETHER. 